Coca-Cola Torchbearers – January 17th
Name: Melanie Mazereeuw
Hometown: Drumheller, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Bow Island
Torchbearer number: OTR080-035
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 35
Living in a small town, Melanie Mazereeuw believes it is not hard to be active. There are many ways in her community of Drumheller to ‘Live Olympic’. She takes part in road clean up, weeding Wednesdays and she is active in many charity walks in her community. Recently, Mazereeuw participated in the MS Walk and the Relay for Life walk.
At the local co-op grocery where Mazereeuw works, she actively participates in a recycling program. Her work has implemented a plastic recycling program for bags and initiated a program to return all pallet wrap from shipments for return and recycle. They recycle all of their signs and paperwork, too.
Mazereeuw comes by her environmentalism naturally. Her mom started her on the right path when she initiated and ran the first green school program in Lethbridge. She and her mom spent Saturdays collecting phonebooks from homes and businesses. They also collected milk cartons and bottles to recycle. Mazereeuw believes the path is there for all of us to live environmentally and the Olympic Torch Relay is another way to get others to follow the path to living ‘Olympic’.
Name: Kristin Raychert
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Medicine Hat
Torchbearer number: OTR080-011
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 19
Kristin Raychert has been a competitive figure skater for 15 years. She wants to inspire and show others the joys of what figure skating can bring to others.
Raychert has coached many CanSkate programs for the past 5 years and she is currently working on her NCCP coaching levels so she can teach private lessons. For her, there are no words to describe the feeling of seeing the joy on a child’s face after you have helped them achieve a skill or goal they have been working towards. If Raychert can make a child smile because of something they have achieved, she knows she has reached her goal.
Raychert also coaches swimming and rugby and has been a mentor to many young children through her high school leadership program and church summer camp. She has taught children that participating in sport can lead to a happy lifestyle. For instance, Raychert has taught younger athletes that hard work and dedication can lead you to your dreams and that enjoying yourself is what active is all about.
Name: James Zanoni
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Coaldale
Torchbearer number: OTR080-088
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 24
James Zanoni lives Olympic by inspiring and enabling people to live actively. He has invented a game called Rush, which combines football, blackjack and hacky sack. The purpose of Rush is to have a sport that everyone can play. He has organized Rush games every Sunday for the last three summers. Many different people have played Rush, not just traditional athletes. He has also organized many other sports teams.
Last summer, Zanoni helped organize a company softball team. The team was made up of players that had never played softball before. He has also organized a floor hockey, volleyball and basketball teams. With these teams, Zanoni tried to get a mix of athletes. For example, last winter his basketball team was comprised of a mix of guys who had played basketball before and their girlfriends who had never played.
In February of this year, Zanoni volunteered for the Alberta Winter 55 Plus Games. He was responsible for bringing supplies to the events. It was a rewarding experience, as these games inspire people of all ages to be active. Through Rush, organized sports teams and volunteer efforts, Zanoni inspire others to live actively and that is how he lives Olympic.
Name: Laura Giroux
Hometown: Taber, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Taber
Torchbearer number: OTR080-048
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 54
Laura Giroux has always been an active person and encouraged others to become involved with living active. Giroux and her husband spent countless hours flooding the outdoor rink so the kids would have some place to skate. Giroux said that the evenings in the cold were worth it when she saw how much fun the kids were having.
When Giroux was in her mid-forties, years of hard work finally took its toll on her body and she found herself unable to do strenuous physical activity. After three surgeries and physical therapy, she started the road back to health. Today, she works out four to fives times a week with a group of friends. They look forward to seeing each other every day to laugh and to encourage each other making their workouts more enjoyable. She says she has never felt younger or more fit than she does now!
Name: Desiree Unvoas
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lethbridge
Torchbearer number: OTR080-098
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 30
As a single parent, Desiree Unvoas believes that she must set an example. She made a commitment to active living in 2006. Her weight was 220 lbs when she started integrating activity into her daily life by adding a 15-minute jog and joined YMCA. Since she has started her new routine, she has inspired 6 other people to the gym and shed 80 lbs.
Unvoas is also passionate about protecting the planet. She describes herself as a “genuine farm girl”. In grade 3, she started picking up trash in the schoolyard. In her community, she has undertaken several projects to raise awareness about the environment. They include recycling, sustainability and tree planting initiatives.
She is proud to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
Name: John Koot
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Coalhurst
Torchbearer number: OTR080-093
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 43
John Koot joined the Canadian Ski Patrol in 2003 and currently patrols at Castle Mountain Resort. He finds that being part of the Canadian Ski Patrol serves the community both on and off the ski hill. During the winter months, they are first to the mountain each day and check all the runs to make sure it will be safe to open to public. Then during the day, they assist skiers and snowboarders on the Mountain.
Koot wanted to attend the games as a volunteer but was unfortunately he was unable to. He is proud to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
Name: Christopher Klassen
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Lethbridge
Torchbearer number: OTR080-113
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 36
Christopher Klassen is a substitute teacher from Lethbridge, Alberta. In his life, he believes living active is important. He has two children, who are 3 and 6, and he says that keeping up with them could be a full-time training routine! His son is learning to ride a bike and Klassen can’t wait to get him out on the trails.
Klassen is an avid rider, and has been since his youth. His greatest ride was from Lethbridge to Ft. MacLeod and back, for a total of 100 km. That ride was training for the Ride to Conquer Cancer that Klassen is participating in. He will ride 200 km in two days to raise money for cancer research in Alberta.
Klassen also loves camping and hiking in the foothills and mountains of Alberta, and take he often takes his family with him. He hopes to pass his love of the outdoors and outdoor activities to both of his children.
Name: Raelyn Riley
Hometown: Bow Island, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Bow Island
Torchbearer number: OTR080-030
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 18
Living actively has always been a large part of Raelyn Riley’s life. From a young age, her mother encourages Riley and her siblings to get involved in physical activities, whether it be biking, walking the dog, or swimming. Riley has dedicated her time to competitive team sports, from the varsity basketball team to co-ed soccer.
Riley enjoys giving back to the community and encouraging others to take part in physical activities. She has been refereeing soccer for the past six years. Last summer, Riley started working as a lifeguard at the local pool, which included teaching swimming lessons. Riley says that her favourite way of giving back has been volunteering her time as a coach for the same basketball camp that she participated in from kindergarten to grade six.
Riley is proud to be a part of the Coca Cola Olympic Torch relay.
Name: Rob Bernshaw
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Grassy Lake
Torchbearer number: OTR080-042
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 57
Rob Bernshaw is proud to have taken steps in his life that will reduce his environmental footprint. He has replaced all the bulbs in his home with fluorescent energy smart bulbs and installed motion sensors to activate the lights. He uses rechargeable batteries in his power tools and flashlights, which he recycles when their life has expired. He is also looking into purchasing a rechargeable lawn mower as well as a hybrid or totally electric vehicle.
Bernshaw has also taken steps in his workplace to raise awareness about the benefits of green cleaning products. His long-term goal is to be totally self-sufficient and 100% environmentally aware. He is currently renting and researching alternative methods of power such as solar, wind and geothermal power in order to take him off the grid.
Bernshaw is proud of what he has achieved so far and can’t wait to continue to make choices that benefit the earth. Rob is thrilled to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
Name: Arden Shibley
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Taber
Torchbearer number: OTR080-049
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 16
Arden Shibley just started his fourth year of long track speed skating at the Olympic Oval in Calgary. He trains 4 times a week with the Calgary Speed Skating Association. Shibley says he was inspired to try speed skating after watching the Torino games. Arden also enjoys photography in his spare time.
Name: Conor Sandford
Hometown: Medicine Hat, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Medicine Hat
Torchbearer number: OTR080-023
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 17
Conor Sandford will be graduating from high school in 2010, after completing the French Immersion program at his school. He has competed at the provincial level in both cross-country and track. Sandford hopes to continue running at the university level. He says his biggest dream would be “to someday represent the greatest country in the world, Canada, in the summer Olympics”.
Name: Jessica Royen
Hometown: St. Alberts, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Medicine Hat
Torchbearer number: OTR080-005
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 15
In 2004, Jessica Royer participated in the Arctic Winter Games, where at 9 years of age, she was the youngest Team Alberta member. She did well in her event of Figure Skating and received four Ulu’s: one gold, one silver and two bronze. Royer says she loves being active and has incorporated her skating skills into playing ringette. She also plays club soccer.
Name: Heidi Halstead
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Bow Island
Torchbearer number: OTR080-037
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 17
Heidi Halstead is 17 and in Grade 12. When she is not working hard to keep her marks up in school, she plays the harp and is involved with Calgary Track And Field. In the spring, she also plays field hockey. Halstead is excited to be part of the Coca Cola Olympic Torch relay.
Name: Karen Priest
Hometown: Blackie, Alberta
Carrying Torch: Coaldale
Torchbearer number: OTR080-084
Torch Relay Segment: January 17th, 2010
Age: 38
As a mom of three, Karen Priest believes it is very important to help the environment and Earth. In their household, they work to reduce the amount of garbage they create. They compost regularly and use the fertilizer to keep their garden healthy. Priest uses rain barrels to water her plants and gardens. Priest has taught her to children to brush their teeth without leaving the water running. They always use cold water for laundry and hang it to dry.
Priest believes that as a mother it is important to instil a respect for nature in her children. Priest says she can sleep peacefully knowing that she is teaching her children to love the planet.
